Toilet flush mechanism



L. L. INGRAHAM May lZ, 1942.

TOILET FLUSH MECHANISM Filed March 11, 1940 INVENTOR. A H A M Arra RNEY;

a m I L 0 E L Patented May 12, 1942 TES 1 Claim.

This invention relates to toilets and more especially to an improved flush mechanism for the same.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and efficient mechanism of the character described.

Another object is to provide a noiseless positive acting flush mechanism for toilets.

Another object is to provide a flush mechanism for toilets contained within and forming a part of the toilet seat structure and eliminating the water tank or reservoir.

A further object is to provide a self-contained flush mechanism unit which can be removed and replaced, and one which does not require attachment to a wall structure.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a View showing the mechanical movements involved in the invention;

Fig. 3 is a separate View of the water valve and its actuating gear; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 illustrating particularly the control cam.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I show a toilet 5 shown and described more particularly in my copending application filed May 29, 1940, Serial No. 337,882. The toilet comprises a bowl 5 within a casing l which is preferably of sound deadening material and separated from the bowl by a space 8. A flush operating mechanism '9 is contained in a space to the rear of bowl 6 within casing I which comprises a water supply pipe I5 leading to the interior of bowl 6 in which is positioned a valve ll having a shaft l2 on which is mounted a gear l3 which engages and is driven by a worm gear l4 mounted on a shaft l5.

A bevel gear I6 is mounted on and drives shaft [5 and engages bevel gears l1 and I8 which are mounted on a shaft I9 but not directly connected to it. Shaft I9 is carried in suitable bearings 20 and is shiftable longitudinally therein under pressure of a spring 2| which bears against the hub of a gear 22 which engages a wide tooth gear 23 mounted on and driven by a shaft 24. A gear 25 mounted on shaft 24 engages a pinion 26 on a motor shaft 21 of a motor 28.

A collar 29 is slidably mounted on shaft '19 and rotates therewith having a slot 30 which engages a pin 3| secured to the shaft. Slot 30 is beveled at one side and forms an abutment for engagement with a dog 32 secured to bevel gear ll. Similarly, a collar 33 is slidably mounted on shaft l9 which rotates therewith having a slot 34 which engages a pin 35 secured to the shaft. Slot 34 is beveled at one side and forms an abutment for engagement with a dog 36 secured to bevel gear l8. A compression spring 31 is positioned on shaft l9 between collars 29 and 33 and tends to keep the collars in separated position. a

A gear 38 mounted on shaft 24 drives a gear rain 39 which turns a shaft ill-on which is mounted a cam wheel 4| so positioned that'a side peripheral portion is opposite the end of shaft l9. This portion of cam wheel 40 is provided with a plurality of cam surfaces against which shaft l9 presses and rides such that as the cam wheel turns shaft I3 is shifted longitudinally so as to provide engagement of dogs 32 or 36 with slot abutments 30 or 34. Cam wheel 4| has a cam surface 42 which, when engaged by the end of shaft I9, causes interengagement of dog 36 and slot abutment 34 resulting in the turning of bevel gear I8 which turns.

gears l6, l4 and I3 and shaft 12 to open valve ll. Cam wheel 4! has a cam surface 43 and a cam surface which, when the end of shaft 19 is pressed thereagainst, causes the shaft to rotate without the rotation of either gears H or l8.

Cam wheel 4| has a cam. surface 45 which when the end of shaft I9 is pressed thereagainst is in its extreme position to the left, and dog 32 is engaged by slot abutment 30 and gear I! turns gear IS in the opposite direction to which it was turned by gear I8 so as to close valve H.

An electric switch 46 controls the operation of motor 28 and is provided with a manually actuated plunger 41 which is conveniently located so as to extend exteriorly of the casing 1.,

A collar 48 is secured to plunger 41 and a bracket 49 is secured so as to secure a spring 50 between it and collar 48. Plunger 41 has agroove 5| in a side portion thereof which is engaged by a spring biased plunger 52 which holds plunger 41 in a downward position until the latter is pushed up by the action of a cam 53 on cam wheel 4|. 7

The operation of the invention should be clear from the foregoing description. At the start of the operation the end of shaft l9rwill be pressed against cam surface 44 and both gears l1 and I8 will be disconnected from the shaft. The plunger 41 is depressed, closing switch 46 which starts motor 28 causing shafts 24 and I9 to turn and also cam wheel 4|. Cam surface 42 thereupon comes opposite the end of shaft I9 which under the force of spring 2| is caused to shift to the right and dog 36 is engaged by slot abutment 34 causing gears [6, I4 and I3 to turn which opens valve II to permit the flow of water from pipe 10 into the toilet bowl.

After valve gear l3 has turned substantially a quarter turn, opening valve II completely, cam surface 4| comes opposite the end of shaft I9 causing it to be shifted back to the intermediate position and disengaging gear 18. During this period water continues to flow through which has been held down by spring plunger 52 forcing it up and disconnecting switch 46 which causes the motor to stop, whereupon the mechanism is in condition for another cycle.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

Reversible actuating and control means for a rotary shaft as described, comprising a bevel gear on said shaft, a drive shaft therefor adapted to be reciprocated and having a pair of bevel pinion gears mounted thereon engaging said bevel gear, a clutch connection between each of said pinion gears, and said drive shaft pipe l0 into the bowl 6 until cam surface 45 comes opposite the end of shaft I9 shiftingit-to the extreme left position and engaging gear I 1 which causes a reverse turning of valve gear [3 to close valve ll. At substantially the end of this period cam 53 passes under plunger 41 adapted to be selectively actuated when said shaft is reciprocated to turn said bevel gear in opposite directions, means to reciprocate said shaft when rotated, a motor drive for said drive shaft and a control switch therefor, said shaft reciprocating means having a cam adapted to disconnect said switch at a predetermined point uponthe rotation thereof.

LEO L. INGRAHAM. 

